Vacuum cleaner construction



May 12, 1959 c A. BROCK 2,886,127

VACUUM CLEANER CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. C/zrewce 61,3720

May 12, 1959 VACUUM CLEANER CONSTRUCTION 14 //1 j; my

INVENTOR. 624767766 A1 .5700? ahwz/s'.

c A. BROCK 2,886,127

United St tS Patent'jOf VACUUM CLEANER CONSTRUCTION Clarence A. Brock,Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Martin- Parry Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, acorporation of Delaware Application February 14, 1956, Serial No.565,336

2 Claims. (Cl. 183-37) This invention relates tovacuum cleaners,pertaining particularly to improvements upon vacuum cleaners of thetypes disclosed in my Patents 2,221,572, granted November 12, 1940, and2,228,750, granted January 14, 1941.

The objects of this invention are to improve the separation of dust fromair in a vacuum cleaner and to improve the separation of dust andliquids from air in cleaners utilizing liquid baths.

Another object of this invention is to reduce thevibration transmittedfrom the motor to the vacuum cleaner container and to improve thesealing between plural portions of that container. Y

Another object of the invention is to increase the portability and toreduce the size of vacuum cleaners.

A feature of this invention is an improved means for directing the flowof air between an input port and an output port of a vacuum cleanerexclusively through a rotatable filtering and separating element.

Another feature of this invention is an improved means for reducing thewater and dust content of the exhaust air from a water-bath type ofvacuum cleaner.

Another feature of this invention is an improved means for establishingan air-tight seal between two detachable vacuum-cleaner containerportions.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects, the nature of theforegoing features, and other objects and features of the invention, maybe more fully understood from the following detailed description of anembodiment of the invention when read with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

-1Figure 1 is a side elevational view in partial section of a vacuumcleaner embodying the principles of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the structurerepresented in Fig. 1.

While certain of the principles of the invention are equally applicableto both dry and liquid-bath type vacuum cleaners, the principles havebeen representatively embodied in a cleaner containing provision for theeffective depositing of dust in or filtration of dust through a waterbath.

The disclosed vacuum comprises a container having three interjoined butdetachable portions; a main housing portion 12, a cap assembly 14 and apan assembly 16.:

The main housing portion 12 includes a generally circular cylindricalsheetmetal element having a rolled lower edge 18 extending substantiallyaround the periphery, a generally horizontal upper flange 20, agenerally cylind-rical flange portion 22 depending from the inner edgeof the upper flange 20, a generally conical flange portion 24 dependingfrom the lower edge of the flange 22 and a generally horizontal innerflange 26 extending radially inwardly from the flange portion 24.

The cap assembly 14 is an inverted bowl-shaped member having an inturnedlower flange 30. An inner cap element 32 issecured within and at theupper end of the cap assembly 14 by any appropriate means, represen-2,886,127 1C Patented May 12, 1959 tatively by the same screws 34 whichsecure the handle 36 to the cap assembly 14. A generally circularcylindrical inner canister 38 is secured to the inner cap 32 and extendsgenerally coaxially with the cap assembly 14, the walls thereof beingspaced from the walls of that cap assembly. The lower portion of theinner canister 38 fits within and makes intimate engagement with thegenerally cylindrical flange portion 22 of the main housing portion 12,the sliding engagement between those parts being such as to inhibit theflow of air therebetween but yet permitting removal of the cap assembly14 if the occasion for such should arise. The inner canister 38 is anelement of the output-air bafiiing arrangement, the sole output openingin the portion 38 being through an aperture 40 near the lower edge andat one side thereof. Air flowing through the aperture 40 then normallypasses downwardly between the inner canister 38 and the edge of theflange 30 and then passes outwardly through the annular slot extendingperipherally of the cleaner and defined by the spacedapart flanges 20and 30.

The molded or cast pan assembly 16 includes a socket 42 adapted toaccept the coupling portion of a flexible hose (not shown), the remoteend of that hose being connected or connectable to any of a number ofknown types of nozzle attachments. The inflow of air is directeddownwardly by a throat portion 44. In the preferred use of the device,the lower portion of the pan assembly 16 contains an appropriatequantity of water 47, a representative level of which is indicated, inwhich the dust, dirt and other particles may be dissolved, floated orsuspended. Except for a discontinuity at the socket 42,21

shoulder 46 extends peripherally of the pan assembly 16,

being engageable with the lip 18 of the main housing portion 12. Thelower edge of the main housing portion 12 is provided with a lippedcutout 48 conformed to the configuration of the socket 42, the lippedportion 48 being continuous with the lip 18 so that a substantially ingmeans are provided for detachably securing the pan assembly 16 to themain housing portion 12.

The upper end of the pan assembly 16 is partially enclosed by wallportion 50 terminating in an annular flange 52, the upper surface ofwhich is planar, or slanting in-- ward and downward to tend to cause anywater lying thereon when the pan is open to flow into the pan.

A motor assembly 54 is supported within the main housing portion 12 in amanner to be described and the motor therein is adapted to drive both alower separator 56 and an upper multi-stage fan 58 so as to draw airthrough the socket 42 and throat 44, over or through the water 47 andthrough the separator 56, the exhaust air traveling from the fanassembly 58 over the previously noted course to the atmosphere.

As may best be seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the motor assembly 54comprises a motor housing 60 within which a motor 62 is secured by meanssuch as machine screws 64. The upper shaft extension 66 of the motor 62,retatably supported by bearing assembly 68, is secured to the movableelements of the multi-stagefan assembly 58 which may be of anyappropriate type, such as those dis closed in my abovereferencedpatents. The assembly of the fixed elements of the multi-stage fan 58 issupported upon the upper flange 70 of the motor housing 60 and.

is secured thereto by means such as screws 72.

The motor housing 60 is resiliently supported for liniited verticalmovement relative to the main housing porassets? tion 12*:by meansincluding motor support ring 76, pref- :erably formedof a resilientmaterial such as rubber. An annular lip 78 at the upper edge of themain, generally frustro-conical sleeve portion of the support ring 76 isclamped to horizontal flange/26 of the main housing 12 by means of anouter clamping ring 8d, the horizontal flange portion:82 of which issecured to the flange '26 by means'of aplurality of annularly disposedscrews 85 passing through apertures in the flange portion 82 and in the"lip 78 and'threadedly engaging apertures in the flange'Zfi.

.Support ring 76 is further provided with an inwardly extending annularlip 84 engaging and supporting the lower annular surface of the motorhousing on. A plurality of machinescrews, such as screws 86, serve toclamp the annular lip 84 between the motor housing 60 and an innerclamping ring 88. Toinsure a secure engagement between the lip 34 andthe motor housing 60, an annular cavity 90 :is formed in theundersurface of the housing 60,-that cavity being defined in part by adepend ing lip 92 at :the outer edge of the motor housing 66!. Theinwardly extending annular lip 84- is appropriately .formed with anenlarged inner portion to occupy the cavity .90. This constructionobviates any possibility of the.lip.84 slilpping radially outwardlybetween the inner clamping ring 88 and the housing 60.

Dual air sealing means are provided for insuring that air from theatmosphere can enterthe cavity in the pan assembly 50 only through thesocket 42. As one of those means, the motor support ring 76 is providedwith a radially outwardly extending lip portion 9 -3, theouter edge ofwhich is beaded as a reinforcement and the undersurface of-Which isadapted to engage, over a horizontal annulus .of substantial width, theupper surface of the flange 52 ofthe panassembly 50. As the other suchmeans, a motor gasket 96, preferably'formed of a resilient material suchasgsponge rubber, is disposed in the annular cavity defined by ,theinner face of the lower portion of the motor support ring 76, by theunclersurface of the inner clamping ring .88, and by the outer surfaceof a motor gasket flange 98 which depends downwardly from but ispreferably integral with the inner clamping ring 88. The motor gasket 96is preferably cemented to portions 88 and 98 and the undersurface ofthat gasket is adapted to engage, over a horizontal annulus ofsubstantial width, the upper surface of the flange 52 on the panassembly 50.

The configuration of the support ring flange 94 and the thickness ofthemotor gasket'96 are selected so that when the pan assembly 50 ismechanically latched to the main housing. assembly 12, gasket 96 isslightly compressed and flange 94 is deflected somewhat from its normal,free position ,so'that both elements continuously exert a force tomaintain themselves in contact with the upper surface of the pan flange52. The sealing effect is emphasized when the machine is in operation intwo ways. First, the pressure differential between the inside and theoutside of the pan 50 tends to force the support ring lip 94 moretightly into engagement with the upper surface of the flange 52.Additionally, the flexible support for the motor housing assembly 54permits a limited amount of vertical motion of the assembly 54 relativeto the canister and hence, relative to the pan assembly 50, with themotor "housing assembly 54 moving vertically downwardly toward the panassembly 50 when the machine iSzill ioperation'due to the propellingeffects of the multistage fan assembly 58. In practice, the amplitude ofthis motion may be in the order of one-eighth of an inch.Thisdownwardmotion of the assembly 54 further increases the'engagingforces between the sealing elements 94 and .96 and the flange 52,tending further to deflect the former and tending further to compressthe latter. Itwill benoted that the described type of mounting for themotor assembly 54 not only permits an enhancing of the sealing to thepan assembly 50, but also the resilient nature of the support results inthere being substantially no transmission of the motor vibration to thepan assembly 50 or to the main housing.

It will be appreciated that ring 76 provides an excellent seal to thepan assembly Stlso that the provision of gasket is not imperative forproper sealing. However, as will be seen, gasket 96 serves anotherimportant function so that its use is desirable.

The lower motor shaft extension 100 is rotatably sup ported by a bearingassembly 102-secured within a bearing ring 104 A plurality of relativelythin, radially extending ribs 106 are formed integrally with the motorhousing 60 and the bearing ring 104 so as to support the lattercoaxially with the housing 60, yet permitting air to flow upwardlywithin the housing 60. Separator 56, which may be of the type disclosedin my Patent 2,228,- 750, is secured to and rotates with the shaft 100.Separator 56 effectively serves to permit the passage of air from thecavity of the pan assembly 50 upwardly through the housing 60, underthepressure dilferentials created by the fans assembly '58, but to preventthe movement of dust or moisture therethrough. Separator 56 terminatesin a generally horizontal annular flange 110. A rotational clearance isestablished between the peripheral edge of the flange 110 and thehousing 60 or parts integral therewith, in this case, the wall of theflange 98.

As in my previous arrangements, in order to prevent moistureanddust-laden air from flowing upwardly from the cavity in the pan St)through the annular gap around the flange 110, in bypass of theseparator 56, a spider assembly 112 is provided to-establish a downdraft of clean air through that annular gap to oppose and prevent theupward passage of dust or moisture laden air therethrough. In itsdisclosed form, spider assembly 112 includes a cup-shaped hub portion114 secured to the shaft Mt) and rotatable therewith, the hub portion114 partially enclosing the bearing assembly 104 and hence serving as abearing cover. This configuration provides the requisite protection forthe bearing assembly 104 without the need for a separate bearing cover,thereby permitting a reduction in the overall height of the assembly.

A pluralityof blades 116 extend radially from the portion 114, the tipsof the blades 116 being interjoined by a ring structure 118 whichincludes a peripheral notch 120 in which the inner peripheral edge ofthe separator 56 is seated. The outer tips of the blades 116 and theouter edge 122 of the ring 118 extend into spaced proximity to thevertical wall surface 124 of the motor housing 60. Hence, while themajor portion of the air passing through the separator 56 is directedupwardly through the motor housing 60 and past the motor 62, anancillary air flow is established by the blades 116, clean air flowingdownward-1y between the peripheral edge 122 of the ring 118 and thesurface 124 and through the space between the flange 110 on theseparator 56 and the flange 98, returning to the cavity Within the panassembly 50.

lf'the water level in the'pan 5f! is too high or if a fanmotorcombination is provided which is capable of developing extraordinarilyhigh pressure diiferentials, the arrangement as thus far described maynot be totally adequate to prevent the exhausting of some dust-laden airto the atmosphere. In that event, the additional baffling arrangementdisclosed in the drawings may beemployed to insure that dust or moistureladen air does not bypass the separator 56.

In the preferred arrangement, the inner clamping -ring 83 is providedwith a radially inwardly extending annular flange 128 spaced from thespider assembly 112 and disposed intermediate the tips of the blades 116and the flange 110 of the separator 56. As a result, a bafflingarrangement is constituted whereby the downflow of air is over theserpentine path denoted by arrows in Fig.2 of the drawings.

While it is ,not entirely/clear why the interposition of the bafllingflange 128 produces such a substantial improvement in'the sealing of thestructure against the movement of dust or moisture laden air in bypassof the separator 56, it is believed that the result accrues, at least inpart, from the fact that this arrangement serves to keep the tips of theblades 116 and the periphery of the ring 118 effectively dry since, byvirtue of the provided circuitous path, the moistureladen air within thepin assembly 50 cannot so readily come in contact with those rotatingelements. It is theorized that any moisture at the periphery of thespider tends to be beaten into water vapor by the action of the blades116. Since the density of that water vapor is less than the density ofthe air, the pressure ditferential between the fluid at the tips of theblades 116 and the fluid in the pan assembly 50 is reduced and may, inaggravated circumstances, be reversed so that an upfiow of dust ormoisture laden air is permitted. Otherwise stated, the lighter watervapor adjacent the tips of the blades of the spider assembly 112 doesnot exert as great a centrifugal sealing force as does air.

It has been found in practice that the described arrangement iseflective to prevent passage of water and dirt around the separator 56even though the pan assembly 50 be filled with water well above itsnormal level and even though the capacity of the motor 62 and the fanassembly 58 be substantially increased.

A further advantage of the disclosed construction is in the reduction ofdrippage when the pan assembly 50 is removed. Since Water does not tendto collect upon the separator 56 due to its rapid rotational motion inuse and since any water collecting on the undersurface of the panassembly 50 will drip back into the pan, the total possible drippage ofwater to the floor when the pan assembly is removed is minimal since thetotal area, other than those noted, upon which water droplets cancollect is very small. To a large part, this advantageous result isachieved by the use of motor gasket 96 which blocks water droplets ormoisture-laden air from contacting the undersurface of ring 76 or theundersurface of clamping ring 88. Gasket 96 also serves to keep theupper surface of flange 52 dry, preventing the accumulation of water onthat surface which has been an objectionable characteristic of certainof the prior constructions. If desired, that portion of gasket 96 which,when the pan assembly 50 is secured to the unit, is exposed to thecavity of the pan assembly 50 may be formed as a narrow depending lipterminating in a fine edge, as is represented in somewhat exaggeratedform in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Alternatively, if the undersurface ofresilient gasket 96 is made substantially planar, a depending lip willtend to form when the unit is assembled since the under edge of thegasket 96 is unsupported and since the remainder of that gasket is, to adegree, compressed. If a depending lip be formed in either fashion, anywater droplets tending to collect on the exposed portion of gasket 96will tend immediately to run down and oil of the gasket so thatsubstantially all of the dripping will be completed before the panassembly is removed.

While it will be apparent that the embodiments of the invention hereindisclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects of the invention,it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible tomodification, variation and change without departing from the properscope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a pan, an outer housing surmounting, engagingand detachably secured to said pan, a motor and fan within said housing,and resilient means for supporting said motor within said housing andfor establishing a seal between said pan and said outer housingcomprising an integral body having a lip clamped to said housing, atubular sleeve depending from said lip, a flange extending radiallyinwardly from said sleeve and fixed with respect to said motor, and aportion depending from said flange and engageable in sealingrelationship with said pan.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a pan, an outer housing surmounting, engagingand detachably secured to said pan, a motor housing within said outerhousing, and resilient means for supporting said motor housing withinsaid outer housing and for establishing a seal between said pan and saidouter housing comprising an integral body having generally horizontal,vertically spaced, opposed lips clamped to the respective ones of saidhousings, a generally frustro-conical sleeve interjoining said lips, anda portion depending from said flange and. engageable in sealingrelationship with said pan.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,158,717 Brock May 16, 1939 2,221,572 Brock et al. Nov. 12, 19402,228,750 Brock Jan. 14, 1941 2,233,167 Holm-Hansen Feb. 25, 19412,244,165 McFarland et all June 3, 1941 2,276,844 Holm-Hansen Mar. 17,1942 2,314,986 Johnson Mar. 30, 1943 2,709,500 Carter c... May 31, 1955

